A/N: I just want to thank you all so much for the reviews! I've tried to get back to everyone but it's been a pretty hectic week. I just am so happy people are enjoying this story so far! Not much to say about this chapter really, it's pretty straightforward I think. I hope you enjoy guys!

Chapter 2: "Losing Her"

The sound of the roaring jet rang through his head as he allowed his consciousness to slip into the gentle chords of the soft rock cascading through his ears. He sighed deeply and shifted in his seat, relaxing his sore and bruised body against the back of it. He grunted as a strong ache shot through his thigh, pulsing as he groaned.

The team had just finished up another case and were currently making the long flight back to Quantico. The case had been particularly impacting: they had tracked the unsub for nearly 47 hours trying to save the victim he had taken when he had fled custody. Morgan closed his eyes again as he sighed…they had been too late.

He had been so close to saving her. He had been running so fast, he couldn't even remember a lot of the landscape as it had passed beneath his feet. He had almost caught up with the bastard, even cornered him at one point; like a trapped animal. Trying to escape capture he had ran up a flight of stairs, turning a corner in such a swift movement Morgan had not even seen where he had fled. He had continued the chase up the stairs, and before he had known it he was descending down the stairs dangerously before landing on his back with a very painful thud.

He rubbed his sore temples hard and closed his eyes. It had been all too late. By the time he had gotten to them the unsub had already pushed her.

From a three story balcony.

In his time with the BAU Morgan had seen countless horrors committed by other human beings that haunted him. Every time he closed his eyes visions of crying children and the murdered consumed his thoughts and more importantly: his dreams. Derek couldn't remember the last time he had a dream where he dreamt of the warmth of the sun or the beauty of a day on the beach that he had once so cherished. The times were few and far between, but there was a rare occasion where the screaming would stop and he would dream of his family. He would dream of the (few) celebratory dinners out after cases, he would dream of the office parties they held for each other's birthdays, and other happy memories he held of them. He would dream of their laughs, their kind words, and their reassuring voices that they would always be there to support and protect each other. They were his rocks, the models of stability he could depend on despite the insanity of this job.

He loved them all. Hotch, Rossi, Reid, JJ, Emily, they were all his family…just as much as his mother and sisters. He laid his aching head back on the plush headrest and smirked as he closed his eyes. But there was also his baby girl. He loved his job and the few fortunate souls he would save while doing it, but sometimes he dreaded heading onto the jet, onto yet another case involving some pervert who cuts up women or some sick bastard that likes innocent children. It made his blood boil and occasionally it would spoil over and it would fall apart, but he knew Penelope Garcia would always be there to make him smile and put him back together again.

Derek smiled slightly and moved back more comfortably into the plane seat, trying to get his aching body more comfortable. He sighed…she was different. With her glistening eyes and her heart full of love for everyone around her: in which she was able to see the beauty in everything and everyone, she was different. He yawned widely as his mind began to rest…she meant everything to him…

xxx

He couldn't breathe. His legs were in full swing as they carried him down the street towards his SUV. It was a bitter night in November, and the nippy air was burning his lungs as he sprinted. He couldn't recall a time he had ever run faster in his life. Not in a ball game, not after a woman, not after an unsub, he hadn't run faster for anything or anyone. He gasped for air as his heart pounded against his chest; he had to get to her. He had to.

The drive was a blur as he swerved in an out of traffic. He could hear loud blares of hostility as he cut people off and sped through crimson and ivory lights. He could feel a gasp catch in his throat and he breathed heavily as his foot floored on the gas pedal again, speeding off further into the blinding lights of Quantico. Cars and Trucks slammed on their horns at him as he swerved around them, frantically trying to pass them with haste.

The next few blocks were a blur of lights, noise, and panic as he finally reached the front doors of the emergency room entrance. He pushed the doors open and ran down the hallway, his shoes thudding across the linoleum floor as he ran. He felt minuscule tears stinging at the corner of his eyes threatening to make their way down his cheeks. He gritted his teeth together as he rapidly turned down a hallway, running over to a service desk his hands fell on the surface as he gasped.

"Penelope…Garcia." He panted and the nurse looked down at her computer, before looking up at him questioningly. He fumbled in his coat pocket and hastily pulled out his credentials and flipped them open. "Derek Morgan, FBI." He breathed "Just tell me where she is!" He bellowed, his voice causing attention of several of the people in the bustling hallway.

The nurse blinked and pointed down the hallway to the waiting room. He practically ran down the hallway and noticed Hotch, Rossi, JJ, Emily and Reid were all standing around in a tight circle. He ran up still panting from his marathon like sprint to the hospital and looked at them with trembling wide eyes. They all looked at him blankly and looked away as JJ looked at him fleetingly before her eyes darted back down to her feet.

"She's been in surgery for a couple hours." She said quietly and Derek could feel his heartbeat ramming against the inside of his chest. His head was spinning and he looked around before placing his palms to his forehead, looking distraught he still fought to catch his breath.

"I was in church…my phone was off…" He trailed off, desperately trying to think of something he could say that would help him make sense of the situation: and why he had not been there. Reid looked at him from the couch he had taken a seat on and gave him a look of sympathy to his guilt.

"There's nothing you could have been doing here…" he tried and Derek's lips hardened as he swallowed a lump in his throat as he looked at the white wall, trying to disconnect himself from the entire situation. He bit his lip and looked back at the rest of the team.

"Do the police have any leads?!" he asked quickly, still in denial that this whole thing had even happened. He couldn't picture there would be some sick son of a bitch out there deranged enough to hurt his baby girl. She was always so warm and wonderful to everyone she came in contact with. Her cheerful wardrobe and happy demeanor could command the attention of everyone in a room. Just seeing her face after a really hard day instantly healed his psyche. Derek ran his calloused palm over his forehead and swallowed. He didn't know what he would do without her…

Just as soon as he had slipped into the trance he was in, Hotch's stern voice snapped him back down to the cold hospital corridor. "…I spoke to the lead detective. He doesn't think we'll get anything from the scene…" he trailed off, looking Morgan straight into his deep brown eyes. He felt a twinge of peril as he realized his boss's eyes were locked with his for a reason. He was trying to tell him to be calm…without any words. Derek shook his head slightly and turned away. How was he supposed to be calm when his best friend- his baby girl was in there in a state of venerability, fighting for her life. And he hadn't been there to help her-to save her!

Morgan blinked and turned around when he heard the sound of a door closing behind him. He turned to face a surgeon in blue scrubs and Derek's brows furrowed in worry. There was a look of discomfort on his face, his lips were tight and he seemed to be avoiding eye contact with everything but the floor tiles. "Penelope Garcia?" he said quietly and Aaron and Emily both answered his question in unison.

Morgan's eyes darkened as he blinked slowly, a look of solemn horror crossing his features as he waited for the man to speak. The man shifted his weight to his left foot and looked down at the clipboard in his fingers. "The bullet went into her chest and ricocheted into her abdomen…She lost a lot of blood." He stated quietly and continued to look down at his feet as JJ stepped forward, her pale blue eyes widened.

Her voice cracked into a hoarse whisper "So what are you saying…?" she blinked and looked at the rest of the team, trying not to believe what she thought she was about to hear.

Derek's chest tightened as he felt his fists clench, his nails making their way into the tender flesh of his palms. He could feel his heartbeat pounding in his ears as he ran his hands over his face, his patience wearing thin with the silent man. His jaw clenched and he looked at the doctor "Where is she?!" his tone rose and he stepped towards him. Hotchner's eyes narrowed sternly at Morgan and he stepped in between them.

"Morgan. Let the man speak." He said quietly and looked back at the doctor.

"I'm very sorry for your loss."

xxx

Derek's eyes twitched as they were closed and he mumbled slightly in his sleep as the expression on his face turned to one of uncomforted distress. He groaned and his left knee twitched slightly as he grasped the tan leather on the arm rest for dear life, his fingernails sinking in. His eyes remained shut as they darted back and forth quickly under his eyelids, signifying his current state as having a nightmare. His leg twitched more forcefully, causing a soft thump on the floor of the plane as his heel made contact.

Emily Prentiss's eyes fluttered open and she yawned, looking around the rest of the plane she realized that everyone else on her team was asleep. She furrowed her brow and stretched slightly, it was a rare site to see the others sleeping all at the same time: especially after a case like the one they just closed. She brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear and blinked in confusion when she heard the slight thump and the troubled mumbling from the back of the plane. She rose to her feet slightly so she could look over her seat and she observed her partner clenching the arm rests feverously, his closed eyes darting back and forth as he continued speaking in his slumber. She quietly pulled the blanket off her legs and carefully draped it over Reid before making her way quickly towards the back of the cabin.

She leaned down in front of him and put a hand on his chiselled shoulder blade shaking it gently. She knew it was often better to just let someone having a dream be and let it pass…Emily bit her lip. She couldn't stand to see her friend like this. She looked back over her shoulder at the others who were still sleeping before turning her concerned attentions back to her partner.

"Morgan." She whispered and nudged his arm again. When his mumbling and twitching continued she blinked and her grasp tightened "Morgan." She tried again, her tone slightly louder. She frowned when there was still no response from the sleeping agent and she grasped both his shoulders, shaking him forcefully.

"Morgan!" She exclaimed slightly louder and Derek's eyes suddenly snapped open. Startled by the sudden reaction Emily took a clumsy step back, topping over backwards onto the floor. She looked up as she saw him panting and gasping, looking around the plane fearfully. His hands still grasped the armrests on his seat tightly, cold sweat clearly visible on his forehead. He looked frazzled and Emily's expression softened as she stood up and put her hands delicately on his large biceps.

"Hey Hey Hey…Morgan it's alright, you were dreaming." She said softly to him and he panted, looking up at her with darkened wide eyes.

Morgan soon realized it had been a vision concocted by his unconscious mind and he let out a deep sigh, running his palm over his sweaty temples. He looked at Emily before shifting uncomfortably in his seat, nudging her hands off his shoulders. Emily retracted her hands and sat down in the seat across from him, concern etched on her features. Her eyebrows furrowed as she took in his form and she frowned deeply. Beads of cold sweat were sparkling on his dark forehead and the sweat was evidently soaking his clothing to his clammy looking skin. There was pain etched in his features and Emily winced as she looked at his eyes. They were tired and sullen, looking as if he hadn't slept solidly in quite a while. There was a mahogany bruise shining over the right likely sustained when he had taken the tumble down the stairs. She pressed her lips together and reached out her fingers to the shaking hand resting on his knee.

She winced when he jerked his hand out of her tender reach and she gazed upwards into his eyes. His brows were furrowed in confusion and his expression was distraught, blinking quickly he just stared into her eyes coldly. Maybe that hadn't been the best idea…she thought and cleared her throat.

"Morgan…" she trailed off and leaned back in the seat, putting some distance between her and the panicked man. She saw him shake his head before looking down at his trembling hands, trying to steady them.

"…What." He managed to mutter and glared up at her. She hated when he got like this! She was only trying to help…

"You…were having a nightmare." She started "weren't you?" she decided not to beat around the bush. The nightmares weren't news to her, the team often talked with each other of terrifying visions that haunted their sleep. It was a staple of their job.

His lips pressed together and a low growl escaped his throat before he shook his head, looking casually out of the window beside his seat. "I don't know-" he straightened and regained his composure, wiping the beads of sweat forming on his forehead "what you're talking about." He finished and she swallowed. Why was he like this all the time? Why didn't he trust in anyone…? They were supposed to support each other. That's what they did…they were a family.

Prentiss straightened her back against the back of the seat and cleared her throat. Derek Morgan was stubborn, but she was just as determined. She leaned forward and forcibly put her hand on his knee fixing her dark eyes on his sullen ones. "Do you want to talk about it?" she asked in a whisper and she could see annoyance in his features as his gaze returned out the window.

There was a couple moments of tense silence as he cleared his throat.

"No." he said simply and continued to gaze out of the small window into the darkness. He knew it was a bad excuse to pretend to be looking out the window of the plane, especially since it was nearly impossible for him to even see anything. Emily's dark eyebrows furrowed and she leaned forward again, looking him straight in the face sternly.

"Morgan. I just-" she started and his gaze snapped towards her, a glare etched in his eyes.

"Prentiss. I said drop it!" his deep voice barked and pulled his headphones back over his ears, returning his gaze out into the darkened sky.

Emily's eyes softened and she retracted her outstretched hand from him. She nodded slightly and got up out of the seat, quietly walking back to her seat beside a sleeping Reid. She carefully grabbed the blue blanket back from him and draped it back over her legs, closing her eyes. Morgan's eyes darted over to watch her walk back to her seat, but they quickly left her retreating form and back to the iPod in his fingers.

Aaron's right eye opened when he heard Emily's form stop settling back into her seat. His brown eye gazed over towards the back of the plane and his expression hardened when he saw the state of his agent. His body was bruised and rattled looking, and he was currently slumped against the window tiredly, his dark ringed eyes shut lightly closed. His other eye opened and he blinked, adverting his gaze to his polished shoes. Hotchner couldn't say what it was or what had raised his initial suspicion, but the last month or so Morgan had been off. He looked at him hunched over in his seat again and furrowed his brow. He hadn't been slipping on his paperwork and his behavior on the cases lately had both been…normal. But the concerned unit chief had noticed the profiler's eyes heavier in the morning and he had noticed him reaching for that extra cup of coffee before the jet's wheels went up. Morgan's little outburst at Prentiss had sealed his suspicion in place. Something was definitely troubling him.

Aaron observed him secretly as the man's eyes fluttered open and he took the headphones off his ears. He saw him reach into his pocket and start digging around. Hotchner's brow rose as he heard the light buzzing from the phone clearly even from his position at the front of the jet. Morgan pulled out the small buzzing device and looked down at the glowing screen. Aaron saw a small smile grace his mouth as he held it to his ear.

Derek looked down at the phone in his hands and smiled as he saw a picture of him and the caller pop up onto the screen. He smiled slightly and pressed the answer button and brought it up to his ear. He ran a hand over his face and smiled as he looked out the window. "Hey Babygirl." He whispered and his gaze returned out the darkened window.

She was silent for a few moments as she breathed lightly into the phone. Dried tears were still evident beneath her eyes and she swallowed before leaning her head on her right hand, the left holding the phone receiver to her ear. "…Derek." She mumbled weakly and gently dabbed one of her eyes with a Kleenex.

He blinked and looked over at the others to make sure they were still sleeping before shifting in his seat, worry beginning to cross his face. "Penelope what's wrong?" his deep voice whispered, the last thing he'd want is to wake the rest of the team.

Her lip quivered slightly and she clutched the receiver in her fingers tightly, the tips of her fingers beginning to turn white. She took a deep breath and closed her mascara smudged eyes before biting her lip, a couple hot tears dripping down her cheeks. "I…I needed to hear…your voice." Penelope whispered a choke evident in her whispered tone.

His eyebrows turned upwards with concern "do you want to…talk about it? Is there anything I can do…?" he tried and Penelope shook her head, clutching the receiver close to her ear. A few tears slid onto her keyboard and she closed her eyes gently.

"Just don't hang up."

A/N: Kind of a cliffhanger there...oops. I'd love to hear what you think!